J.K. Rowling's characters
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The weeks went by and Harry continued to go to the clearing. Every other day he would sit with the mustang and relax. He practiced spells, drew art, completed homework and spoke of his days. The mustang never asked for more. Harry had taken to bringing food for the horse, quickly finding that Granny Smith apples were the horses favourite.
Severus quickly found himself relying on his visits to Harry. The moment he left the clearing was the moment that he longer for their next meeting. He spent his lesson watching the boy as he did the work and wished for their time alone. His thoughts were taken up by what Harry had said in the last meeting and what might happen in the next. There was always something new and interesting that came from Harry's mouth; from his opinion of the herbology homework to his opinion of a house elf named Dobby, from what had happened when Harry was with his dorm mates the night before, to what had happened when Harry was with his relatives for the first eleven years of his life. Severus had also found the reason as to why Harry had been unable to achieve sleep in the first place: due to a constant stream of nightmares and memories.
It was when Harry had told Severus of his relatives along with the nightmares that a new feeling pierced the man's heart: protection. It hurt to wish to protect someone who was constantly in danger. Severus knew that Harry would go back to his relatives in the summer and he wouldn't be able to stop it. Severus knew that Harry under went a number of emotional attacks from the wizarding world and the school. Severus knew Harry blamed himself for the deaths of Sirius Black and Cedric Diggory and was constantly plagued with unreasoned guilt. Severus knew that the dark lord was out to kill the boy. Severus knew that the boy was unable to achieve any sleep without the mustang present. All of these things he had to strive to protect Harry from and yet he had no way of achieving it. At the end of the day, Severus' war still waged on and Harry was still in harms way.
And so here he was, listening to Harry as he talked about the time Hermione had broken the rules by setting his cloak on fire as a distraction. He would have frowned at the story- well at least his old self would- but instead he found it amusing, snorting out laughter through his nose. They sat side by side, a jumper beneath Harry whilst he leaned back on Severus. The sound of another in the clearing immediately made both Harry and Severus jump up.
Harry had his wand out, listening for another footfall whilst his eyes scanned the forest. Severus covered Harry's back, weary of the danger in the air. He now noticed the absence of sound and movement; the lack of life in the forest. A breeze swept through the pair and they shivered, both from the cold and aura of something dangerous lurking in the shadows.
A low chuckle caused both Severus and Harry turn. A figure stood beneath the shade of a tree, his face hidden but glistening red eyes illuminating a pale face.
"Sorry, I've interrupted you. But I just couldn't with hold myself any longer. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Louis Altair." The man stepped forwards a slight bow at the waist as he watched Harry. The mans head was held high in arrogance. Something of an aristocrat, with all the handsome features of one.
Harry stepped back and the mustang trotted in front of him. Louis eyes narrowed at the horse as it separated him from his prey.
"No need to fear me Harry. I just wanted to speak to you."
"How do you-"
"Know your name?" The man cut off. "You mean aside from the fact you are the chosen one? Well, I've been watching you Harry. You come to this clearing every two nights and speak to yourself and the animal and then you practice your magic. And I must say, what a wonderful amount of magic it is. I haven't seen anyone quite as powerful as you in centuries."
Harry stepped back, gripping his wand tighter.
"What do you want?" Harry demanded, his voice full of confidence.
"In such a hurry, Harry? Such little patience in youth. But that can be changed. I'll teach you to master patience. We'll have all the time in the world."
"What-" Whatever Harry was going to say was stopped as the creature flashed forwards and grabbed Harry. Before anyone could react, Harry was on the other side of the clearing, pinned to a tree with his wand gone. The creature stroked the side of Harry's neck, looking into the boy's fearful eyes.
"You will be mine." The creature growled before sinking his fangs into Harry's neck. A piercing scream filled the clearing as blood dribbled down Harry's neck. The creature held on to Harry tightly, overpowering his every being. The red colour glistened on the pale skin and reflected the moonlight. No sooned had it appeared, then the blood was quickly lapped up and by the tongue of Louis.
Severus stood for two seconds before he realised what was happening and drew a conclusion. The creature was a vampire. The vampire was attacking Harry. The vampire was planning on turning Harry and making the boy his own. He had to protect Harry in anyway possible and anyway was most certainly not whilst in animagus form.
Severus changed without second thought and rose his wand so it pointed at the creature with a clear shot. The vampire didn't even notice, enraptured in the full on taste of Harry Potter. A quick solar spell shot from Severus' wand and pierced the vampires back. Louis wrenched his fangs from Harry and stumbled back, his body shaking in flames before falling to pieces on the floor.
Severus looked up to the boy against the tree. Black eyes met green, a small glint of fear and hurt crossed Harry's face as he caught sight of his potions professor standing where the mustang should have been. Harry's eyes fell closed and his body collapsed on the forest floor, his neck bleeding profusely.
Severus wasted no time wrapping the boys neck in the jumper from the floor in an attempt to withhold the bleeding. Gingerly, he picked Harry up and ran straight through the forest and into the castle.
T.B.C.